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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> After 3 or 4 years
        
(Message started by: suepy801 on Dec 6^th, 2006, 8:46am)

Title: After 3 or 4 years
Post by suepy801 on Dec 6^th, 2006, 8:46am

Well I was 3 or 4 years headache free. Thursday night I had a small headache that reminded me of years past but I dismissed it as too much computer time. I went to bed. Boy was I mistaken. I was rudely awakened in the middle of the night. Found my imitrex but it was expired so I took advil and got ice and layed on the couch. I was fine in a half hour and went back to bed thinking here we go again. People at work are concerned and want me to go to the DR. I went years ago and was told they are cluster headaches. They also told me then to quit smoking. I am 5 weeks smoke free and the headaches start. UGH. I am not heading to the DR now since Advil or exscedrin and ice seem to knock it out in about 20-30 minutes and I can go back to bed or resume working with my hand on my temple.

I teach special education. This year I have a kid with autism who is having some disturbing behavioral issues. I have a feeling the stress of this is what brought on this attack. In addition the stress of quitting.

I have enjoyed reading the posts. It is good to know there are people here who get the 0 to 60 pain from no where and then gone after a bit. You all understand that I just need to wait for the cluster to end. I have been there before and I am here again so I hope this too shall pass.

Title: Re: After 3 or 4 years
Post by Redd715 on Dec 6^th, 2006, 9:44am

on 12/06/06 at 08:46:30, suepy801 wrote:

Well I was 3 or 4 years headache free. Thursday night I had a small headache that reminded me of years past but I dismissed it as too much computer time. I went to bed. Boy was I mistaken. I was rudely awakened in the middle of the night. Found my imitrex but it was expired so I took advil and got ice and layed on the couch. I was fine in a half hour and went back to bed thinking here we go again. People at work are concerned and want me to go to the DR. I went years ago and was told they are cluster headaches. They also told me then to quit smoking. I am 5 weeks smoke free and the headaches start. UGH. I am not heading to the DR now since Advil or exscedrin and ice seem to knock it out in about 20-30 minutes and I can go back to bed or resume working with my hand on my temple.

I teach special education. This year I have a kid with autism who is having some disturbing behavioral issues. I have a feeling the stress of this is what brought on this attack. In addition the stress of quitting.

I have enjoyed reading the posts. It is good to know there are people here who get the 0 to 60 pain from no where and then gone after a bit. You all understand that I just need to wait for the cluster to end. I have been there before and I am here again so I hope this too shall pass.

I'm chronic, and have been for many years, however, 5 weeks after I quit smoking, my beast morphed on me. Quitting smoking plays with the seratonin levels in the brain and CH has a close relationship with this neurochemical. My HA specialist did mention that the abrupt change in seratonin is most likely what caused the mutaion. It was only at this time that I was correctly Dx.

I'd wager that the 20-30 minutes time frame is just the beast running it's course. Time to head to the Doc and get your battle gear.

Title: Re: After 3 or 4 years
Post by suepy801 on Dec 6^th, 2006, 10:58am

4 years ago when I had an attack I found that even the meds did not take action any faster than over the counter and ice. Ice and going outside in the winter have been the best. I am giving it another couple of days before I go to the doc for the big guns.

Title: Re: After 3 or 4 years
Post by RichardN on Dec 7^th, 2006, 12:10pm

Make sure one of those "guns" is 02. I can usually kill the beast in minutes if used early on in the attack. I can live with the beast as long as I don't have to "dance" with the bastard. 02 has saved me from MANY dances.

I tend to agree with Redd. When I came here, the only thing I thought was working was Goodies Powders . . . was taking 8-10 per day . . . all I was doing was eating up my stomach lining.

When you get your 02 . . . and if it works for you (as it does for 60-70% of us) you're gonna be really pissed at yourself for the unneccesary pain you've endured.

Read, read, read . . . and ask any questions you might have . . . you won't find more CH info anywhere and information is our best weapon against our common beast.

Be Safe, PFDANs

Richard

Title: Re: After 3 or 4 years
Post by Sandy_C on Dec 7^th, 2006, 5:27pm

Hisuepy, and welcome.

Speaking from experience with using Excedrin, advil, all of those great OTC meds, is that, yes, they will work to take the edge off lower level hits. They will not abort the biggies, and, again, from experience, they do have a rebound effect. More hits, harder hits, etc.

If you're not taking any prescription prevents or abortives, I would strongly suggest that you just stick with the ice packs, ice water, look in to Melatonin if you have night hits, check out Kudzu (info on medications board), but back off from the Excedrin/Advil route.

Just my two cents.

Sandy

Title: Re: After 3 or 4 years
Post by Steve75 on Dec 9^th, 2006, 5:26pm

on 12/07/06 at 17:27:21, Sandy_C wrote:

Speaking from experience with using Excedrin, advil, all of those great OTC meds, is that, yes, they will work to take the edge off lower level hits. They will not abort the biggies, and, again, from experience, they do have a rebound effect. More hits, harder hits, etc.
Sandy

I couldn't agree more about the rebound effect. When I first started getting these, i was trying to use Excedrin Migraine...it was great, in the sense that within about 15-20 minutes the headache was gone, and these were kip-6/7! HOWEVER, about 2 hours later...way too soon to safely take more Excedrin...i'd get slammed with a kip-8/9 that would last for about two hours!
Steve